257 Palestinian prisoners in occupation jails continue with their open-ended hunger strike

Palestinian media outlets reported on Saturday that 257 Palestinian prisoners in  Israeli jails continue with their open-ended hunger strike in protest against the occupation’s continuous crimes.

According to the Palestinian Prisoners and Ex-prisoners Affairs Commission, 250 prisoners continue with their hunger strike for the fourth consecutive day protesting the Israeli oppressive and brutal practices against them, including solitary confinement.

The other seven prisoners  are Kayed Al-Fasfous, who has been on a hunger strike for 94 days, Miqdad Al-Qawasmeh, who has been on a hunger strike for 87 days, Alaa Al-Araj, 70 days, Hisham Abu Hawwash, 61 days, Shadi Abu Aker, 53 days, Ayyad Al-Harimi, 24 days and Khalil Abu Azzam, 7 days. Their demands are united – an end to their illegal detention, according to the Prisoners’ Commission.

 These prisoners are suffering from critical health conditions, particularly Al-Fasfous and Al-Qawasmeh, due to exhaustion, sharp loss of weight and lack of fluids in their bodies. 

The Prisoners’ Commission pointed out that the number of prisoners on hunger strike  is expected to increase during the coming days. 

5000 Palestinian captives are facing very difficult detention circumstances in the Israeli jails, 600 of whom are ill and they need urgent medical treatment.

In the same context, the Palestinian Prisoners Club warned of the deteriorating health condition of the prisoner Naser Abu Hamid due to the occupation’s brutal practices and the deliberate medical negligence at its jails.

According to WAFA news agency, the Prisoners Club said that Abu Hamid, 49, who has been detained by the Israeli occupation since 2002, suffers from a tumor in his lung and needs urgent surgery, but the Israeli authorities don’t allow his transfer to the hospital for necessary treatment.  

Abu Hamid’s situation is part of the occupation’s systematic policy of medical negligence towards the ill Palestinian prisoners, said the Prisoners’ Club, pointing out that the occupation exploits the prisoners’ need for treatment as a torture tool.

Hamda Mustafa